Life in the slow Lane…

Yesterday was the 3-month anniversary of carting home the Lane Acclaim series side-table. In need of work, ours has been a love-hate relationship ever since. Well, at least until today! Below: the car ride home…

Lane - BEFORE

What Gadora imagined might be a brilliant and expeditious reno, was actually a laborious lesson in patience and how to best overcome over-simplified project expectations. The original oven-baked lacquer finish had at some point been coated with a shiny lacquer.

Mr. Kemp and Lucky sniff it out.

More than 11 hours after beginning, picking up and applying the first container of stripper… we have success!

The table sucked up an entire bottle of green stripper. Then let me sand and sand and sand… while it promised something grand. Careful not to disturb the Lane insignia underneath, with a manufacture date of January 1966, Gadora sanded and scraped the shellac drips under its lip until they faded.

Table - undercarriage

Table top with newly exposed dove-tail detail. Only a layer of tung oil has been applied in this photo, revealing the walnut top and oak edges.

Here she is. With two careful coats of stain applied, then meticulously wiped off and blended, the table top has a soft lustre, depending on the light and angle with which she is approached. (Click on the pics for a larger view!)

Lane table - close-up

• • •

Corner detail...

• • •

Set up as a nightstand, the Lane table lends sophistication and nostalgia to a comfortable setting. At last.

I just purchased a set of Lane Acclaim tables off of Craigslist, including a pair of the two-tiered end tables and a rectangular end table. They really show their 50 year age and need to be refinished. I’ve heard that refinishing Lane Acclaim furniture is tricky (because of the two-toned dovetailing and walnut veneer). So, I’m trying to do as much research as possible before I tackle the project of restoring them. What type of striper or furniture refinisher did you use to remove the previous finishes? Also, did you sand with sandpaper or steel wool (and what grade)? Thanks so much and great job on your table! 🙂

Hi Erika, this was a laborious project! I first used an entire bottle of eco-friendly (green) stripper. Sadly, it didn’t do the trick. I’m apt to err of the side of caution and begin with a lighter grade sandpaper, then work up (slowly) if I see I need more oomph. I regret not making note of what grade of sandpaper I used, but feel certain I began with a sanding sponge, rather than steel wool. Hope this helps. I’m eager to see how yours turn out. Thanks for your note.

Hi! I have the boomerang coffee table from this series and it needs refinishing. Can you tell me what stain you used and if you used anything over the stain? You mentioned oil, what kind of oil? This table has been sitting, unfinishe,d in my living room since last summer! Thank you! Love your site!